CES 2008

The Eclipse CD7200 mkII

(Credit: Eclipse)

Car stereo maker Eclipse, the U.S. brand of Fujitsu Ten, displayed its CD7200 mkII at CES 2008, a single CD receiver unit designed for high quality audio. The copper-plated chassis of this car stereo keeps external electrical signals from causing noise in the unit's wiring, and it uses gold-plated connectors for optimal signal transmission. The CD player uses 24-bit digital-to-audio converters, where the majority of car CD players on the market only use 16-bit.

The CD7200 mkII doesn't have an onboard amp, as it is designed as a control unit for an external amp and speaker setup. It does have an 8 volt preamp, significantly more powerful than most, which delivers good audio clarity even at low volumes. With its integrated E-iServ technology, users can download an acoustic profile for their type of car and load it into the stereo. Profiles are only available for car types, such as SUV and sedan, and not by individual car models. As a car stereo, the CD7200 mkII accepts a broad array of sources, from its MP3-capable CD player to USB, iPod, and satellite radio expandability. It comes with built-in Bluetooth for streaming audio. The front panel folds down, hides the CD slot, and incorporates Eclipse's standard car stereo interface.

The AVN6620 in our test car at CES 2008

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Eclipse had the honor of being the first manufacturer to install its product in our CNET Car Tech test lab here at CES 2008. The product the company chose to showcase was the AVN6620, its next-generation, in-dash, all-in-one navigation and multimedia system with a 7-inch wide-screen display with touch-screen capabilities. Like the Eclipse 6600 that we reviewed last year, the 6620 combines built-in GPS navigation with turn-by-turn route guidance; street-level mapping with building outlines in built-up areas; digital audio and video playback capabilities (CD, MP3, WMA, and DVD discs); and a ton of expandability options (iPod, HD Radio, XM, and Sirius satellite radio). The 6620 is shipping now with a price tag of around $1,200.

Car Tech editors Wayne Cunningham and Kevin Massy fiddle with a Scion xD.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

At this year's CES, the Car Tech editorial staff members not only cover the show, we are part of it. Along with looking at new and innovative automotive gadgets around the show floor, we are running the Car Tech Testing Lab. We've invited major car stereo manufacturers, such as Eclipse, Alpine, Pioneer, and Blaupunkt, to stop by our Lab and install their latest car stereos in our test car, a 2008 Scion xD, so we can check out the products in a standard environment.

We first got a sense of our new responsibilities as we waited in line to drive our test car into the convention center. There we were, 8 a.m. on Sunday, sitting in our Scion xD, in front of a Morgan, a Ford GT, and a Ferrari F430. We felt a little outclassed, but were happy with our car when we had to maneuver it around crates, forklifts, and cranes through the hall to our Lab. We spent the rest of our setup time prepping the car--taking out the original stereo and disconnecting the starter--and setting up camera angles. Then Monday through Thursday we will be getting our first looks at the latest car stereos.